Wednesday, May 19, 2010

This past weekend, my parents came to visit and watch me walk in Vanderbilt's graduation. It was really hot and sticky in the morning and humid. I was dripping sweat under my gown. The only thing I remember from the speaker, who disappointingly was just the Chancellor, was to keep up my reputation and to not make it bad. Afterward, we were eating strawberries and drinking champagne, and talking to my very drunk friend John. The champagne ran out right away, so I didn't get to drink hardly any... and then this woman came and told us that a severe thunderstorm was coming and that we needed to go into a building...any building. My mom took off almost running. My dad stayed behind eating as many strawberries as he could. I then had to keep my mom from running away, gather my dad, Josh, and a drunk guy, and get them all to understand that the building we wanted to go to was the geology dept. building...not the closest one. I sure am bossy...maybe I should have let everyone just do what they wanted. He he he. Once we got it together, it was very hard to convince my mom that we weren't going to immediately die and that we could indeed walk all the way there. It wasn't even raining yet or thundering. I don't know what got into her either...she's not afraid of thunderstorms or anything.

At the department, there was a reception for all the graduating undergrads, which I didn't know about, but then learned I had to stay for. Everyone met my mom and dad.

Finally, we walked 20 min. in the thunderstorming downpour to get to the car so we could leave. Yeah.

The next day we drove to Malone Lake State Park in Kentucky and went on a walk. We were suppose to go on a boat to tour a cave but it was flooded. So we hiked in the woods...something I very much didn't want to do. It was very humid too.

We were walking down this 5 ft wide path of mowed grass with walls of poison ivy on each side, when we saw a SNAKE! My mom said it was at least 5.5 ft but maybe 6 ft long. She suggested laying down next to it to measure. As we were walking past I noticed a 2 inch spider jump onto the back of the snake, take the reins, and rode it into the woods...probably to battle other spider - snake teams or maybe a badger. I told my mom it was a good thing she didn't lie down next to the snake because there was a GIANT spider there!! We are both very afraid of spiders, but not of snakes.

We also got a ton of ticks on us, just like what I said would happen. BUT I learned I'm not as afraid of ticks as I thought I was. So long as Josh is there to remove them of course.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Today I am home sick with what I think is allergies, but maybe it's not. I don't know...I've never had allergies like this before! Last night my ear, My Ear! got plugged up. I tried to go to sleep but woke up in the middle of the night in soooooooo much pain. I got up, got attacked by the cat, googled allergies and plugged ears. The top three solutions were see an ENT which I swore I would never ever ever do again. My blood boils when I think of ENT doctors. The next one was take a decongestant which I think would have kept me awake. And the third was taking a shower. And so I did. Yeah it hurt that bad. I took a shower in the middle of the night during the water conservation efforts. It was long and hot and it did not work. I took some sort of allergy medication that wouldn't keep me awake and then laid on the couch with my ear on a heating pad. Eventually I heard these pretty awesome gurgling sounds of my ear draining. And then the coughing started and would not stop. It still hasn't stopped. A constant dry hack. I think my sinuses are draining out of my throat instead of my nose. Why would they do that? It's such a bad idea. I would hack up a dime size piece of phlegm and spit it out. But constantly...no respite. For a while I just sat by the toilet and did that. Then I laid down and swallowed them for a while. Then I got up and puked them all up. It's true...I puked up my phlegm. I know because it looked like phlegm in the toilet and there was very little stomach acid that came up too. Josh and I call these PuPu (like PukePuke but with out the "ke"), which means little puke. We invented the word the other day to describe what Ackbar was telling us when he hacked hairballs, He pupued. Well I do now too.

I hope you pupued a little to while reading this.

So I was thinking of taking this time to update you on our last week. I left you last time with a list and I think I'll take it and expand on it.

1. How Josh was late and forgot something important...twice. One Wednesday I had a chiropractor's appointment (which cured my back pain and made me feel alive again!), and Josh had to pick me up from work and bring me there. The clock in his car was wrong though and he was 15 min late. So I called and changed the time. Then we realized that we forgot my x-rays at home, so I called and changed the time again. We drove home, got the X-Rays, and then got stuck in a terrible traffic jam. So I called and cancelled the appointment. Due to the flood traffic has been really really bad on the expressways in unexpected times. On this day we were heading against rush hour traffic, so we should have been free and clear. On Thursday Josh was suppose to pick me up from work so we could head directly to Bellevue to volunteer to help clean up houses. He was 15 min. late b/c a cop pulled someone over in the worst spot and it took josh 15 min. to get past him. Then when he picked me up, he had forgot to grab my outdoor work pants. So we had to go home and get them. Then we got stuck in a flood traffic jam and it took us 40 min. longer to get to the volunteer place. I will describe that next.2. Dinner WIN and Volunteer FAIL: Once we got to the volunteer place and parked it was 6:00 and our friends we were going to work with were leaving. But that didn't stop us, we were going to rip up dry wall no matter what! As we were walking to the destroyed houses... we were in a super duper rich sub-division...one of the non-flooded houses had dinner set out for all the workers. They saw us and FORCED us to put down our tools and eat before we worked. It's similar to when your grandma makes you eat or asks if you want a drink. She won't be happy until you do. These were Italian grandmas feeding us and they are even more strong willed. Josh and I were more than happy though to eat the delicious 4 course homemade Italian dinner in a strangers lawn. No problem. And it was amazingly good. After food we headed on down to the ruined houses and everyone was done working for the day. No one needed any volunteers! So we had to sneak away and leave without actually doing any work, but full from an amazing meal.3. I spotted the weather ball in Antioch, it was red. It's true. We were driving home and were at our exit and I was like...is that the weather ball? Weather Ball Red Warmer Weather Ahead. I made Josh drive around in Antioch until we found it, and it wasn't the weather ball... it was a CARNIVAL in the dying mall's parking lot! It had so many awesome rides! But we were super tired and couldn't join.4. How my neck was fixed and I found out that I am not old, just broken. The chiropractor showed me my x-rays (on Friday when I finally got there on time), and he pointed out that three bones in my neck were not curving correctly like the other ones. I saw proof that I had something wrong!!! I was like, YES I SEE THAT! He then cracked my neck, which was super duper freaky and reminded me of Mr. Zinnecker when he cracked his neck in English class. And afterwards I noticed that I could move my neck a million times more and better than before and my back pain was gone! I have always been wary and slightly skeptical of chiropractors, but this guy had a blog that answered all my questions, and then he explained to me in a science way what was wrong and backed it up with pictures and other physical tests. He and I have a lot of similar views. We also both know the term "righting" which I thought was just a geological term. I was trying to explain it to my mom the other day. It's when a tree that is growing up lives through a mudslide and is suddenly growing at an angle. From that point on it will continue to grow upwards, causing the trunk of the tree to have a bend in it. Apparently the same thing was happening to my head and neck.5. I bonded with a 6 yr old girl I went to the Graduate Christian Fellowship end of the year party and there was a young girl there. Her older brother and sister were deep into a greek trivia contest with Josh, so I talked to her. I would look at her and give her my cutest smile and she would give me the exact same smile back! She told me how her dad is much more strict about time limits when she is in timeout than her mom is, and we bonded over how annoying brothers are. I am 20 yrs older than her. Earlier this week at a party I did not mention, I talked to a 16 yr old girl (sister to the birthday girl and she left early and did not drink, fyi). I was 10 yrs older than her. 6. Oh and the mistake of getting 6 hrs of sleep then taking an allergy pill at work. Long story short all I did was work sleep, similar to when I sleep and play WoW. It goes...type a sentence, sleep, wake up with a start, type a word, sleep, wake up with a start, type a word, sleep....and so on. I will not be doing that again! I can't wait for this thing in my head to leave...now that I have no pain and am sleeping better for it, I just want to work and accomplish things again!7. Piranhas loose in the flooded mall. Doesn't that sound awesome? To bad it was the biggest spread rumor about the floods. Though I suppose that would be a good thing... A harmless happy funny rumor is far better than what some of the rumors could be about this flood. What we thought had happened was the during the flood the aquarium in the Aquarium Cafe had broke and only the piranhas survived and were swimming around the the Opryland Mall. Which by the way is my least favorite mall. It is triangular shaped and I once had to walk around the whole thing in crutches and then stand outside in the freezing rain while Josh drove the car up. I also realized during that trip that a mall is not magical, it is just a building owned by some rich guy who rents it out to people/companies to sell their stuff. This mall is super touristy and some of the stores are so unusual for mall stores that you can tell they are family owned. It just made me angry at the time...a broken ankle probably didn't help. And anyways...the mall was flooded. Game over.8. Water conservation = excuse not to shower What was also flooded was one of the two water treatment plants for Davidson country (Nashville). So they are producing half as much water as normal. We were told to use water only for drinking and cooking. Not cleaning in any form. That means there is a perfectly good and humane reason for me to not do laundry, wash the bathroom, do the dishes, or shower! Let me tell you this is the best! There are numbers and emails you can contact report people and businesses that are wasting water, like watering the lawn or washing cars, etc. I haven't reported anyone...yet. Don't think that I won't! Do you know who I should report? Ackbar! He is a water waster! The day after we were told to conserve water, he spilled his water bowl not once...but twice!

This past weekend Josh and I went to the Renaissance Festival b/c it was the only free weekend in May we had to do it. It was soo much fun! I have some pictures to post that I will do soon...but until then, A List!

1. Did you bring your dagger today?
2. RIDING THE CAMEL: I DID IT
3. We renewed our vows. That makes 3 times we were married.... we've decided that's how we are going to keep our marriage fresh and new...renew vows every chance we get.
4. We watched a Good Clean Wet and Dirty Wench Show...and I've rarely seen so many crass and dirty jokes in one place before...but still hidden enough for kids to watch. It was amazing.
5. Human chess
6. A big woman with uneven floppy boobs
7. Weapons!

The next day Josh and I volunteered to pass out FEMA water to people who needed it. It was a lot of fun and really hard work. I'm kinda addicted to volunteering now.

Friday, May 7, 2010

So much is going on now to say, that I must get out some of it before new stuff pushes it back.

First I spent last weekend at home with my friends and family. It was really great to go back and see everyone. I was flying to Grand Rapids with a layover in Detroit and my brother, Nathan, was going to pick me up there. I only at 30 min. in D-Town to get across the airport and get on my plane. I walked there as fast as I could, and as I was getting up to my gate, tired, sweaty, and annoyed at this flipflop wearing tool who kept on getting in my way, I saw a person standing there taking my picture. It was Lianne!!! (My sister-in-law). I was soooo confused... I was like they didn't drive to Detroit to pick me up did they? And how in the world did she get into the airport this far without a ticket? Turns out Lianne was in New Jersey all week and was taking the same flight back as I was!

I got to see her and Nathan's new house. It is giant and beautiful and in the woods. It needed a lot of repairs, like flooring and tiling in the bathrooms and paint, etc. They are doing it all themselves and it seems like a lot of fun. I don't know though...Josh and I lose each other in our tiny apartment all the time... it would be impossible to find each other in a two story house with a basement. How would we carry on a conversation while moving around the house? Okay, so we lost each other in our old 2 room apartment and I suspect we would lose each other in a studio apartment as well. We are doomed.

The next morning we met Mandy and Nick (sister and fiance) at the Brandywine for breakfast. I made tons of hobbit jokes that no one got. Because the Brandywine is a very big landmark in the Shire where hobbits live. I think the last time all three of us hung out was breakfast before my wedding and that was like 10 min.

Mandy brought me to Fremont where I tried on her bridesmaid dress and it fits me perfectly and I look skinny. My mom was sure to point out that I was gaining a little weight in my tummy (which is true), but I still think the dress hides it very well. I say this as a bridesmaid, that I can't wait to wear this dress again! It's true, my little sister has found the perfect bridesmaid dress. They are knee length skirts with two pieces of 2 yrd long fabric that are about 10 inch thick sewn to the front. You take the fabric and wrap it around yourself any way you want to have many different styles out of it. My mom made them all (they are super easy to make), so they are very inexpensive dresses as well! I still have to pay for it even though my mom made it. What's with that? All the bridesmaid's mom's were there the next day for the wedding shower and watched the other girls try on their dresses... they all think (my mother included) that I plan on wearing a bra with mine. I don't know what in the world gave them that idea...

Saturday night I ate at Spanky's the world's best breadsticks with the world's best friends. It was a great time! We then came to my house and sat around a campfire and talked and had just a few beers. I wanted to be wide awake and not hung over the next day. It was really nice to talk to them and recap high school. Nato was saying that when he was in high school he didn't realize how much more world there was out there. That he had to learn there were "other roads" to take and other scenery to see. Megan and Carly I think agreed and Steph and KP were quiet so I don't know what they thought about it. I didn't say anything because I am trying not to say everything I think. I didn't feel that way though... I've always known there was more out there and I was ITCHING to go explore the rest of the world. All I did when I was young for as long as I can remember was dream about leaving Michigan and the US. I've left Michigan and I am waiting to leave the US. I still have a long while...but it will happen and I can't wait!! Until then Josh and I are going to explore the US. Moving out has shown me there is more to our country than I thought. So I guess I do agree with Nato, just on a grander scale. For example, I've been to Birmingham, AL. Josh and I drove there in my truck. We visited one of their upscale suburb's transit station (biodiesel related). Until I was there, I couldn't actually truly believe that Birmingham existed. I mean... I knew so little about it and I don't know anyone who has ever been there. But it's there and there are people living their lives there. It's a city like any other city.

At 10:30 at night I received a phone call from my supervisor from work. I was like...it's late night Saturday and she's not the type of person to call out of work...let alone then. I answered and she asked me if Josh and I were okay. I was like... UMmmmm...what? Then she told me that there was flooding in Antioch. My first reaction was "HA! IN YOUR FACE JOSH....I KNEW WE NEEDED FLOOD INSURANCE!" Did I mention we had been drinking just a few beers? Then I wanted to know what was actually happening, and she said the news was saying there was massive flooding at Bell road and 24, which is basically our intersection. I told her that neither he nor I were there and I had no idea...but that we lived on a hill. Which is true...we live on the second floor on a hill.

The next day was Mandy's wedding shower and I got to see many of the female members of my family. It was a lot of fun and I loved seeing everyone again. I especially loved that it wasn't my wedding. There was so much going on in such a short period of time... I can't remember too many of the details.

I got a call from Heather telling me that Sarah was stuck in our apartment all weekend watching Ackbar (thank goodness) and that I shouldn't come home until Monday because of the flooding. Since I was basically at the airport when this happened I stayed with Nato one more day!!! We went to Billy's that night (a bar) and I drank several more beers than I did Saturday night. Mandy and Nick came over and hung out with me for a while. I loved that...I think that was the first time I was at a bar with Mandy and she was actually old enough to be there! Oh and get this...the beers were one dollar! One fricken dollar!!! I had forgotten about how cheap beer is in Michigan.

Monday I sat outside in the sun getting incredibly sunburnt with Nato talking to him about life. Of everything that happened this weekend, I think that was my favorite part. We used to spend a good 5 hrs a day together in high school and then work together on weekends...I haven't been able to spend one on one time with him since then.

I didn't get home until midnight though and then Josh and his mom kept me up until 2 relating to me their adventures in Memphis and getting home.

This is the extent of our flood damage: Ackbar got NAUGHTY because his mother (me) wasn't there to boss him around... you know you always get away with more when the babysitter is there... and he knocked over the fish bowl. When Sarah picked it back up...Bivouac was MIA. And so many people had asked me about him and how he was doing at the wedding shower. Little did I know.

Here is a list of stuff I hope to expound on next time:

1. How Josh was late and forgot something important...twice
2. Dinner WIN and Volunteer FAIL
3. I spotted the weather ball in Antioch, it was red.
4. How my neck was fixed and I found out that I am not old, just broken
5. I bonded with a 6 yr old girl
6. Oh and the mistake of getting 6 hrs of sleep then taking an allergy pill at work.
7. Pirhanas in the flooded mall
8. Water conservation = excuse not to shower

Damn, that's a lot of interesting shit in that list and you don't even know yet...all in only 3 days! I expect to have a lot more to add tomorrow seeings as how we are going to the Renaissance Fair and the carnival at the Hickory Hollow Mall.